Your Mississippi In-Person Voting Guide

October 30, 2018

The way you vote impacts the trajectory of your city, county, the state of Mississippi, the entire United States, for generations to come. This is why it’s critical that you let your voice be heard with your vote. You’re hopefully already registered. Now, you actually have to make it to the polls. Here’s our prep guide.

Set the alarm. (I been through this too long!)

Polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. Hopefully, there’ll be lines. You, and the five friends you’ll take with you, want to get there early.

Know where you’re going. The niftiest tool ever, the Polling Place Locator shows you where you should go to vote when you enter the address at which you’re registered. Check it out here.

Plan ahead. As we mentioned before, polls are open between 7 AM and 7 PM. 12-hour shift? Two jobs? Today is the day to request some time off to vote.

If you’re reading this and have employees, be cool with hours and allow them time to go vote. Be proud your workers are doing their civic duty!

Have your ID. Mississippi does require you to have voter identification. Those 12 accepted forms are:

A driver’s license

A photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi

A United States passport

A government employee ID card

A firearms license

A student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college, or community/junior college

A United States military ID

A tribal photo ID

Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government

A Mississippi Voter Identification Card

“What if I don’t have ID?” You can get a free Mississippi Voter ID card from any Mississippi Circuit Clerk’s Office. Go during their business hours!

Actually voting! Going to the polls can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. You will use a machine to vote. In general, here’s how it works:

Present your ID to a friendly poll worker; they’ll find you on the voting roll and mark that you’ve voted

Another poll worker hands you your ballot

You’ll be directed to an area to fill in your ballot. It works just like a standardized test.